September Newsletter 2025

Denver Concierge on October 8, 2025

Fall Adventures

Welcome to fall across the Front Range. It is our favorite time of year, and there is so much to do in and around Denver.

We would like to take this opportunity to share some of those things here and get your fall kicked off in the best fashion possible.

Without further ado, one of our favorite things to do is fondly known as “leaf peeping”. As the colors change in our fine state, there are some wonderful places to go see the leaves change and spend time in nature.

We found a super cool list of day hikes, courtesy of 5280 Magazine, and it includes 23 trails that are beautiful this time of year.

Colorado.com put out a good list of leaf peeping spots here as well.

If you decide to go hiking, keep in mind these tips to prevent and treat common injuries, gotta be careful out there!

For you festival lovers, fall in Denver is chock-full of options, including beer festivals, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, and the like. The DCPA has a fun list of these events and places here.

We also found another comprehensive list of fun stuff to do, courtesy of seenbyamy.com, and it is here.

For you arachnid lovers, you can also check out the annual tarantula migration (yes, that is a thing).

Whew, that is a lot of stuff to do.

We hope you enjoy fall as much as we do, and take advantage of the wonderful fall season across the Front Range.

Oh, and if you decide to stay in? We promise you will have a wonderfully clean house, courtesy of our dedicated staff of cleaning professionals.

Read on to see Denver’s best restaurants, courtesy of Michelin, a dangerous ChatGPT breach, Waymo’s self-driving taxis, and 3D printed houses!

We always try to be informative, so there you go.

As always, thank you so much for reading and for supporting our small business. It’s an honor to be part of your lives.

3D Printed Homes?

The entire notion of 3D printed stuff is above our complete understanding.

Imagine how we felt when we saw that a Colorado company is now creating homes that are 3D printed!

That is one pictured above.

How in the world does this work?

It starts with a computer-controlled printer that extrudes a cement-like mixture layer by layer to build the home’s basic structure, following a digital blueprint.

So, where can you find one of these beauties? Well, in Buena Vista and Salida, for starters.

Thanks to an innovative Colorado company called VeroTouch, this area is leading the way in the 3D home printing space.

Why would a prospective buyer choose a 3D printed home? From fire-resistance to low maintenance costs, 3D homes can also be very stylish.

They are also leading the way in reducing building costs, reducing traditional building costs by 20% and labor needs by 40%. Wow.

To learn more about these robotically created homes, check out the article here on this cool topic, courtesy of 5280 Magazine.

Chat GPT Breach Concerns

We love the idea of using AI to improve our lives. In fact, we would guess many of you are using some form of AI in your daily lives.

The most common one? Chat GPT. Of course, there are others, like Microsoft’s CoPilot, Grok, etc., but OpenAI’s version is very popular.

So, what might be concerning? Well, we are glad you asked, because most recently, ChatGPT users have been finding their private chat conversations online, for everyone to see.

Yes, you read that correctly, private chats with this AI were being indexed and found on the web. Yikes.

Some of the conversations found were quite private and certainly not meant for the public to see.

From the article on Cybernews, “From private chats to full legal identities revealed – internet users are finding ChatGPT conversations that inadvertently ended up on a simple Google search.”

“If you’ve ever shared a ChatGPT conversation using the “Share” button, there’s a chance it might now be floating around somewhere on Google, just a few keystrokes away from complete strangers.”

After this article was published, OpenAI’s CISO, Dane Stuckey, posted on X that the company is planning to remove the feature from the ChatGPT app starting tomorrow. “This was a short-lived experiment to help people discover useful conversations,” wrote Stuckey.

What can you do to protect your privacy? We found the perfect article on Medium that gives excellent advice on how to proceed, and it is here.

The full article, courtesy of Cybernews, can be found here and is also very informative.

Finally, ChatGPT has had a number of security issues, worth a peek here.

We strongly recommend caution when sharing sensitive information with AI bots, and there are some good tips here from MIT.

Stay safe, and be careful what you share with ChatGPT and others!

Colorado’s Michelin Restaurants

In the restaurant world, receiving recognition from Michelin is probably as good as it gets.

The Michelin Guide has been around for 125 years, first published in 1900 by the Michelin brothers. Initially a free guide for motorists with advice on roads and services, it evolved to include restaurant and hotel recommendations and began awarding stars in 1926.

Synonymous with quality dining, Michelin awards its restaurants three levels of star ratings.

From their website, one star is “High quality cooking, worth a stop”.

Two stars, “Excellent cooking, worth a detour”.

Finally, the highest rating of three stars: “Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.”

Why are we telling you all of this?

Because Colorado has quite a few dining establishments on the list, including Colorado’s only two star awarded restaurant, The Wolf’s Tailor in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Denver.

Quite an honor.

There are seven one-star Michelin rated restaurants, including perennial “Best of Denver” restaurant, Frasca in Boulder.

Michelin also gives out “special awards”, including sommelier recognition, exceptional cocktails, and outstanding service.

They also award Green Stars for sustainability, and Colorado had four of those, including two-star winner Wolf’s Tailor.

Finally, they also publish a list of restaurants that are recommended, but don’t quite make the star rated list.

5280 did a fabulous job of recapping all of the Michelin winners spots recognized, and it can be found here.

Meanwhile, we need to go to the Wolf’s Tailor and see what all the fuss is about!!!

To see all of the restaurants recognized in Colorado, check out the list here.

All this food talk is making us hungry! See you out there, folks!

Waymo Comes to Denver

What in the world is Waymo? Well, if you have been to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Austin, or Atlanta, you may know the answer to that question.

That futuristic-looking vehicle above is made by Waymo, a self-driving ride-hailing company.

Owned by Google/Alphabet, the company launched in 2009 and became a separate subsidiary of Alphabet, the parent company of Google, in 2016.

Their next stop? Denver, of course.

CBS News Denver featured the Waymo announcement last week, emphasizing that the rollout will take some time and will be done in phases.

From the article, “If there are vehicles that can improve safety and improve convenience, we’re all for it,” Polis said.

“According to Waymo, their autonomous cars are five times safer compared to a human driver. That’s one of the biggest reasons the governor is eager to have them in Colorado.”

“The single largest cause of crashes is driver distraction, right?” Polis said. “You’re looking down. You’re looking at your cell phone. So you take that factor out; you have a big net benefit. And so absolutely, as these become more prevalent, you’ll see the number of traffic accidents and collisions go down.”

Fascinating, and we are excited to see how this goes. While we haven’t taken a ride in one yet, we can imagine it’s pretty eerie riding around with no driver present.

The company says its goal is to begin serving the public early in 2026. That will start with a driver behind the wheel before they move to a fully autonomous experience. Waymo will start in the city of Denver and work toward expanding into the metro area and Denver International Airport.

Cool stuff, we look forward to seeing these gizmos driving around Denver next year!

More information on Waymo can be found on their website here.

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for August were Nimia Espinoza, Aurora Dominguez, Maria Zapata, Xochitl Tehuacati, and Josefina Quinonez.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Natalia Olivas and Haydee Espinosa.

We are so proud of our winners and of all the folks who are in and out of your homes each week.

We are also very appreciative to be a part of your lives and your homes. You provide the platform for our teams to perform, and for that, we are grateful.

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for August.

We are on the cusp of the upcoming 2025 holiday season, which seems to start earlier each year, with Halloween leading the parade.

Actually, for our Denver Concierge clients, this may prove helpful as they plan for upcoming festive events that will require changing a scheduled clean or tacking on an extra one.

Booking early means one more thing to cross off the holiday to-do list.

Also, we generally experience a higher volume of one-time cleaning requests around this time of year. Many are referrals from our current clients who have recommended us to family or friends.

There is no higher compliment, and we thank you for all and any past referrals. Many have become clients.

As always, we will do our best to accommodate any schedule adjustments, special requests, or instructions to help make your holiday season enjoyable and safe – and clean!

We’ll start it off by wishing you a Happy Halloween! Boo!

Bee

August Newsletter 2025

Denver Concierge on September 3, 2025

Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall

Ah, Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer.

At least that is what Labor Day is known for in some circles. For you curious types, the official end of summer this year will be September 22, also known as the autumn equinox.

We do love fall, though, so we are off and running.

In the spirit of Labor Day, we thought we would provide some fun facts you may not know.

We can thank labor unrest in the American Midwest for the creation of Labor Day. Way back in the 1880s, thousands of workers in Chicago took to the streets to protest poor labor conditions and to demand an 8-hour workday.

The first holiday created due to labor unrest was actually May 1st, or the date of the European spring festival of May Day. The International Workers Congress held in Paris in 1889 established the Second International for labor, socialist, and Marxist parties.

Now called International Workers’ Day, it is celebrated on the first of May.

Here in the United States, we celebrate our version on the first Monday in September every year. While there have been efforts to move our holiday to May 1, they have been unsuccessful to date.

So, in 1894, Labor Day was created in our country. It is remarkable to note that while Labor Day was considered a conciliatory gesture to organized labor, it wasn’t until 1938 that the Fair Labor Standards Act limited child labor, set a minimum wage, and mandated a shorter workweek, with overtime pay for longer shifts.

By the 1940s, the average workweek had fallen to five eight-hour days, which is our current standard.

In short, the history of Labor Day is deeper than barbecues and gatherings; it was born as the first volley from overworked laborers to industry, and it stands today as a tribute to treating workers fairly.

For a great timeline of this interesting holiday, check out this history.com article, good stuff for sure.

More locally, we do our best to take great care of our workforce and are so lucky to have our dedicated team of professionals in your homes each week.

This year, Labor Day occurs on September 1st. We hope you have an opportunity to recharge and spend time with family and friends. We will be closed, reopening on Tuesday, the 2nd.

Happy Labor Day!

Bedbugs in Colorado

Those nasty-looking critters shown above are indeed bedbugs.

Only as small as an apple seed (4-5MM), these little guys can be challenging to get rid of.

Each year, Orkin publishes its list of bedbug infestations by metro area, and Denver ranked 14th. The list is based on both commercial and residential treatment data from metro areas between May 15, 2024, and May 14, 2025.

Who has the worst case of bedbugs? Chicago leads the way, holding the ignominious distinction of remaining number one year over year.

Cleveland, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Indianapolis round out the “worst 5” cities in the U.S.

Syracuse was the least infested area of the 50 major metros that were studied.

From the article on Orkin’s site, “Bed bugs are some of the most resilient pests in the world, making them extremely difficult to control if brought into a home or hotel,” said Ben Hottel, Orkin entomologist. “As summer travel picks up, it is critical that people know the best ways to identify, prevent, and control these pests.”

So, what does that mean for you?

The good news is that our ladies are well-trained in looking for all types of pests, including this stubborn one. Year to date, we are happy to report that we haven’t had any sightings.

That doesn’t mean that we have never seen them, and if we do, it becomes a very serious situation, as we are in multiple homes each day.

Rest assured that if we do, you will get a call from Angela immediately.

Frequent travelers are at the greatest risk, as these little guys love to travel and will hitch a ride home with you if you aren’t careful.

Orkin published a great checklist on how to prevent this from happening, and it is the SLEEP acronym as follows:

During travel, remember the acronym S.L.E.E.P. to inspect for bed bugs:

Search the room for signs of infestation, looking for bed bugs, which are small, flat, oval-shaped insects that are brown and about the size of an apple seed. Other signs of bed bugs include ink-like stains on fabrics, shed exoskeletons around furniture and a sweet, musty smell.
Lift sheets, curtains and cushions to check for bed bugs or signs of bed bugs.
Elevate your luggage onto racks and keep it away from the bed or other furniture.
Examine your luggage carefully while repacking and again when you return home.
Place all dryer-safe clothing from your luggage in the dryer for 30 to 45 minutes at the highest heat setting upon returning home.

The full report, along with mitigation and other tips and tricks, can be found here.

As with many problems, awareness is the first step, and we hope you never encounter this resilient little bug.

Always Running Late? Here’s Why

We might be “time blind”.

Actually, we are usually pretty punctual, but we have our moments.

We also have certain people in our lives who never seem to be on time.

For those folks, we have good news. It is entirely possible that your tardiness is not associated with laziness or any other character flaw.

It may just be a case of “time blindness”.

When we saw this headline, we had to investigate, so here we go.

From the Cleveland Clinic, “Time blindness” refers to the inability to recognize when time has passed or to estimate how long something will take.”

“Dr. Manos says time blindness isn’t a diagnosis or a specific symptom; it’s more just a general way of talking about the phenomenon of losing track of time. And it can be more extreme for some people.”

“Everybody has time blindness at times,” Dr. Manos says. “We all can get caught up in something and get ‘in the zone.’ Some people with ADHD, though, are more prone to having difficulty being able to judge how long something will take to do or to lose track of time.”

The article goes on to describe how our brains shift from two types of attention, automatic and directed.

Time blindness occurs during automatic attention. A great example is when you are engaged with something that you really enjoy and “lose track of time”.

Some tips to overcome “time blindness” are also part of this article and they are here.

We also ran across another article here, courtesy of Fox News that goes deeper into the topic.

This topic certainly made us more aware of how and why many of us lose track of time, and we hope it helps you as well!

Colorado Renter Protections

We clean homes and condos for lots of renters. We also clean homes for landlords across the Front Range.

Now and then, we hear horror stories, from both sides, about how the landlord/tenant relationship can go south.

In that spirit, we thought we would provide a primer on what is allowed in our fine state, as well as some things that other states have done to protect both parties.

Most folks think that landlords can decline to renew leases arbitrarily and we were surprised to hear that this is not 100% true.

When things get really bad, we also thought that evicting someone was pretty straightforward. Read on to learn that is not always the case.

The first term we came across was “good cause evictions”.

As of July 2025, five states—California, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington—have statewide “good cause” or “just cause” eviction laws, with Colorado and New York enacting similar legislation in 2024, and several other states and municipalities considering them.

These laws prevent landlords from evicting tenants or refusing to renew their leases without a specific, valid reason, aiming to increase housing stability by prohibiting arbitrary, retaliatory, or discriminatory evictions.

Colorado does not presently have a restrictive “good cause” stipulation between tenant and landlord.

The law in Colorado protects tenants in that the landlord is required to provide habitable housing, This includes obvious things like structural integrity, adequate plumbing and electrical and a pest-free environment.

Landlords are also required to return security deposits in a timely manner, and allow early termination of leases under certain conditions.

Colorado has some pretty strict rules for eviction as well, those can be found here.

We certainly hope you are on neither end of any evictions, and we also hope this article has shed some light on this tricky topic.

What is “Job Hugging”?

Back in another life, we once went on a corporate retreat.

It involved lots of things, including hugging and “trust falls“.

When we saw the term “job hugging,” we immediately flashed back, but that is not what this term refers to.

In fact, this term broke our paradigm about younger people and job hopping.

Job hugging is precisely the opposite of that, and it seems that Gen Z is embracing it, no pun intended.

From the article we found on Fast Company, “At an alarming rate, more and more employees are displaying what is colloquially known as ‘job hugging’—which is to say, holding onto their jobs for dear life,” the report reads.”

“Just a few years ago, job hopping—or moving from company to company in search of the next best opportunity—was trending among employees, especially younger workers looking to climb the corporate ladder. Now, though, the opposite is true.”

In fact, AI, a lack of new jobs and our unpredictable economy seem to be driving a new approach, especially in younger workers.

At Denver Concierge, we never worry too much about turnover, as our folks have generally been with us a very long time.

We sure hope that is due to the way we treat them, and also the fact that they are working in the best homes in Denver.

For that, we thank you.

The full rundown on this new job trend from Fast Company can be found here.

Forbes also featured this concept in a recent article, and it can be found here.

Maybe some good news for employers, but in our experience, there is no substitute for taking great care of your people.

We strive to do that every day.

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for July were Patricia Rodriguez, Josefina Quinonez, Aurora Dominguez, Concepcion Reyes, and Yesica Censo.

In the Team Leader ranks, Mayra Soto and Isela Mendoza led the way.

We are so proud of our winners and of all the folks who are in and out of your homes each week.

We are also very appreciative of being a part of your lives and your homes. You provide the platform for our teams to perform, and for that we are grateful.

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of July.

We would like to mark this Labor Day in the Queen Bee forum by honoring our Denver Concierge employees.

In reality, we honor our employees every day by adhering to the core principles we see as the most important in our employees’ work lives, as follows:

Respect

We are not above ending a relationship with a client for disrespectful or inappropriate behavior toward any of our ladies. Nor will we ever tolerate disrespect in any form towards our clients. Mutual respect is our bedrock.

Safety

Our fleet is made up of new vehicles equipped with all the accoutrements to keep the occupants safe in bad weather. We are also 100% all-wheel-drive, so our ladies are sure to arrive safely in climate-controlled comfort.

Well-being

Our products are chosen for their clean, simple, and non-toxic attributes. That allows the ladies to do their work efficiently without a plethora of supplies or concerns about allergens or toxins.

Appreciation

We know on a grassroots level that house cleaning is tedious, even in the nicest houses, with the best products, with compatible workmates. Appreciation is uplifting, and we try to show it consistently to our hard-working staff.

Communication

We always welcome any discourse or conversation, questions, or concerns. Communication is the glue that has created the cohesive and united workforce that has held steady over several decades.

Many thanks to our lovely Cleaning Associates and Team Leaders, who on a daily basis, do such a wonderful job representing Denver Concierge.

Happy Labor Day!

Bee

July Newsletter 2025

Denver Concierge on August 1, 2025

Green Again

We don’t really like to toot our own horn very much. Or very loudly, but that is a different discussion.

However, we are super proud that we have again been certified 100% green and environmentally friendly by the Green Clean Institute.

We started this way back in 2007, before anyone was invested in green cleaning. As we have stated before, we were the very FIRST Green Clean Certified housecleaning company in Colorado back then.

Many have since followed suit, but we were the trendsetters.

Our certification continues, and we continue to lead the way in environmental responsibility in housecleaning.

Along the way, we have learned many lessons and hope to continue to grow and be even better going forward.

A good example of our commitment to the environment? We consistently get asked to use products that aren’t ours. While we do make some exceptions to this rule (Bona for floors, as an example), we won’t use anything given to us without thorough vetting.

No bleach, no toxic drain or oven cleaners. We won’t do it. Not only is it bad for the environment, but many common household products could be harmful to our ladies, so those are non-starters for us.

The good news is that we bring all of our own environmentally friendly supplies, equipment and people so you don’t have to worry about anything we use.

We also hope you understand why we are reluctant to use products we haven’t researched for safety.

As always, we thank you for your business and support. We hope that our focus on doing things the right way gives you peace of mind when we are in your home.

Quishing Scam

Here at Denver Concierge, we love learning new words.

The word of today is “quishing”. While that sounds like something cute, in reality it is not.

It is the name of the latest scam, where bad actors replace the QR code from something frequently scanned and replace it with their own.

This leads unsuspecting people to scan the QR code, immediately sending them to a place they shouldn’t be. It gets worse if credit card information is given.

This was just uncovered in Cherry Creek.

From the recent article on 9 News, “A viewer shared her story after she thought she was paying the city to park, only to receive a fraud alert moments later. When she returned to the parking sign, she discovered the QR code sticker easily peeled right off.”

It seems these fake QR codes are linked to some nefarious types in the Dominican Republic, and in this case immediately tried to use the credit card that was given.

Yikes.

So, what can we do to make sure this doesn’t happen to you?

First off, Cherry Creek does not currently use QR codes for parking. Other areas are experimenting with them, however.

The article goes on to provide some great tips on how to avoid this scam:

Pay at a meter or kiosk instead of scanning a QR code, if possible.
Inspect the QR code before scanning. If it looks like a sticker that’s been pasted on, avoid it.
Preview the website URL on your camera before clicking. Ask yourself: Is it an official site or a suspicious link shortener?
Watch for red flags: In this scam, Cherry Creek meters directed users to “eb.do” instead of the official PayByPhone website.

Our thoughts? Make sure you are using the correct parking app.

Denver uses PayByPhone. You can register here, download the app, and enter your information safely.

When you park, just enter the number of the area you are in directly into the app, and you will be fraud-free!

Be safe out there, folks.

Cell Phone Enforcement

Way back in January, we covered a list of new laws going into effect in Colorado.

One of those prohibits any use of a cell phone that is not completely “hands-free”.

While we thought we knew what that meant, Colorado has a very specific meaning, and 206 unsuspecting drivers (so far) have found out the hard way what that means.

From the Colorado DOT website, “In a move to enhance road safety and reduce distracted driving crashes, a new Colorado law went into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, that prohibits drivers from using a mobile electronic device while driving, though hands-free accessories are permitted.”

“The new law expands the ban on using cellphones beyond just texting. It now includes holding or manually using a phone or other mobile device for voice calls or any other reason, requiring all drivers to use a hands-free device.”

“Penalties for violating the law start with a $75 fine and two license suspension points for the first offense.”

We are usually pretty good about not messing with our phones while driving, and it is a safety rule that our ladies follow 100% of the time (we hope).

That said, we have “touched” our phones at stoplights (illegal). We have also taken speakerphone calls in the car (also illegal).

The bottom line? Touch your phone, go to jail.

Just kidding!!!

The truth is, you cannot handle your phone while in the vehicle, moving or otherwise. If they spot you, it will cost you money and points off your license. You won’t go to jail, thankfully.

The DOT did a great job of outlining this new law, and the details, along with FAQs can be found right here.

The only silver lining in this? The new law was passed with a compromise in which handheld cellphone use became a secondary offense.

It is not allowed to be the main reason that a police officer pulls someone over.

But, once you get pulled over for other crimes, like weaving between lanes or driving unsafely, they can then add the charge of handheld cellphone use to that case.

Probably better to just use hands-free all the time, seems like a silly ticket to get.

Gas from Thin Air?

Our country has always been dependent on fossil fuels.

We have also spent the last 50 years or so looking for alternatives.

The reasoning ranges from environmental concerns to the finite resources that fossil fuel usage continues to deplete.

Enter Aircela. Founded in 2019, Aircela has created a machine that creates gasoline directly from the air.

The technology involves capturing atmospheric CO2 and converting it into fuel on the spot.

The process is powered by renewable electricity, resulting in gasoline that is free from sulfur and heavy metals, making it compatible with existing engines without costly modifications.

How cool!

The fuel created can then be used by all existing engines and seems to be just what we need to slow down the depletion of fossil fuels. Not to mention the political ramifications of less energy dependence on other regions.

More information on this innovative company can be found on their website here.

The folks at Interesting Engineering also did a great piece on this startup technology and it is here.

We are impressed and thankful for the innovative spirit our great country possesses!

Colorado’s Homebuying Problem

We know how expensive it is to live in Colorado. It is getting worse.

Let us add to the number of lists that we do not want to be on.

Like the one that says Coloradans have faced the highest escrow increases in the entire nation, increasing 31% year over year.

For those of you who don’t know, escrowing is where you put aside property tax and insurance with your lender, and they add that amount to your monthly payment.

From the article in the Denver Post:

“Nationally, homeowners faced a 17% increase in the average escrow payment last year compared to this year, according to a study from Cotality, a real estate research firm formerly known as Core Logic.”

“Colorado led the country with a 31% increase. Other states with high increases include Louisiana at 28%, Wyoming at 26%, and Montana and Alabama at 24%.”

“In markets like Colorado, for example, it is the top market, it’s not just insurance, but it’s taxes as well,” said Selma Hepp, chief economist with Cotality, who was speaking at the National Association of Real Estate Editors in New Orleans.”

Couple these lovely facts with high interest rates, and it is easy to see why home sales might be slowing down in our state.

In fairness, part of the increase is the skyrocketing home values we have seen over the past five years or so.

Insurance has gone up as well, due to many natural disasters ranging from hail to the Marshall Fire.

Kind of a perfect storm, no pun intended.

We wish we had some advice on how to mitigate these costs, but alas, we do not.

Hopefully, mortgage rates will drop a bit, and our state government will figure out a way to get our property taxes down a bit.

The full article in the Post can be found here (paywalled).

The Coloradan did a nice job on covering the “hidden costs” of owning a home, and it can be located here.

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for June were Patricia Rodriguez, Nimia Espinoza, Sandra Vidales, Silvia Anguiano, and Aurora Dominguez.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Isela Mendoza and Brenda Garcia.

We are so proud of our winners and of all the folks who are in and out of your homes each week.

We are also very appreciative to be a part of your lives and your homes. You provide the platform for our teams to perform, and for that we are grateful.

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of June.

We have a new addition to our Denver Concierge family. Meet Miguel, the little black Pug. We have officially added to the 50% of Denver residents who own dogs.

I am pretty sure the percentage of our clients who own dogs is closer to 90% judging from the number of houses where we are greeted with barks and wagging tails.

With that high a percentage of clients with dogs, our ladies have over time become quite familiar with doggie routines and can readily let the dogs in and out, fill their water bowls, and dispense treats

As for the dogs, they probably think we are there for their entertainment. A brief interlude between naps.

Our thought was that Miguel would be a cheerful start to our morning dispatch, waiting eagerly at the door to welcome the ladies as they arrive for their equipment and assignments.

However, during ongoing training for his new job as Greeter, I’ve found him falling short of the task. He is easily distracted and often wanders off from his post in pursuit of a new scent or toy.

So Miguel has joined us as my personal companion and aide de camp. A job at which he excels.

Welcome Miguel!

Bee

June Newsletter 2025

Denver Concierge on July 3, 2025

There’s Only One Maria

Maria is quite a common name. However, in the world of Denver Concierge, there is truly only one.

You may have deduced that the lovely person pictured above is indeed Maria, and you would be correct.

25 years ago, our Maria started with Denver Concierge, cleaning houses. It didn’t take long for everyone around her to realize what a shining star she was. Not long after, she was promoted to Team Leader.

Following that, she was brought into the office to dispatch our teams, manage quality, and oversee the day-to-day operations of running a housecleaning company.

In 2006, when the company was acquired by our fearless leader, John Kitts, Maria was officially named General Manager.

She hasn’t looked back.

She commands the respect of all the wonderful folks who are in your homes, and she is the one behind the scenes, measuring quality, efficiency, and our overall processes. When Angela is communicating with you about arrival times, issues or anything related to your cleaning, it is coming straight from Maria.

In short, without Maria, Denver Concierge would not be who we are today. For that, we express our deep gratitude to her for her service, dedication, and style.

Please join us in congratulating our one and only Maria Herrera for 25 years at Denver Concierge!!!

We can only hope for 25 more.

Read on, loyal followers, for some great updates in this month’s newsletter. We lean on our friends at Entavida for a brain health update, we have information on Denver school closures, we cover the best farmer’s markets in Denver, and we illuminate a dangerous trend called “jugging”.

Wow, that’s a lot, and it’s still 100% free.

We kid, of course, and we hope that you love reading our monthly newsletter as much as we love writing it.

Happy start of summer to you all, happy 4th of July, and thank you for supporting our small business and the wonderful people who make it happen.

Brain Health and You

It sure seems like most of us focus on our health pretty closely. We watch what we eat, try to exercise, and get enough sleep.

Unfortunately, many of us don’t consider our brain health regularly.

If you are like us, you have encountered friends or family who have dealt with decline, and it is a very painful thing to go through for all involved.

We have some great friends over at Entavida/A Wiser Mind, and they spend their lives understanding brain health and what drives it.

Based in Denver, they are experts at understanding cognitive function.

They recently posted a video from Dr. David Ward, who breaks down six key contributors to Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline.

From their post, “ Memory loss isn’t random—it’s the result of specific, often preventable factors.”

“In this follow-up to ‘Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease,’ Dr. David Ward, DC, breaks down six key contributors to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s—factors that are real, measurable, and addressable through advanced testing and personalized care.”

“You’ll learn how chronic inflammation, nutrient and hormone imbalances, insulin resistance, environmental toxins, vascular issues, and past head injuries can work together to silently erode brain function over time.”

We think it is worth a watch, especially if you or a loved one is concerned with cognitive decline and brain health. The full video can be found here.

On a strongly gender-related note, women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and there is a video related to this phenomenon as well and it can be found here.

For a deeper dive into the causes of Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline across the board, visit our friends at Entavida here.

School Closure Update

We recently wrote about the Denver school closure plan and timeline.

Back in November of 2024, DPS announced multiple school closures and restructurings.

As a result, a new policy has been put into place regarding what is allowed going forward, which includes a 4-year pause on enrollment-based closures.

From the article on Denverite:

“No more Denver schools will be closed or consolidated for low enrollment until 2030 after the school board amended its policy Thursday to add a four-year closure pause.”

“But the pause isn’t an all-out ban. The amendment allows a school closure proposal to be brought forward “if there is a substantial shift in student enrollment, funding levels, or an unexpected emergency as determined by either the Board or the Superintendent.”

“Superintendent Alex Marrero also recently enacted a policy that allows schools to be closed for a different reason: persistently low student test scores.”

“Denver Public Schools is predicting its enrollment will decline by 8%, or 6,005 students, by 2029, according to the district’s annual Strategic Regional Analysis report released last week. The report says more enrollment-based school closures would likely be needed by 2030, particularly in the northwest, southwest, and central parts of the city.”

What a complex problem our public schools are facing.

The Denver Post also covered this topic (paywalled), and it can be found here.

We certainly hope that you and your families have not been negatively impacted by these closures, and we wanted to keep you apprised of the latest.

Stay tuned as we learn more, we promise to share it with you here!

Best Farmers’ Markets

We love a good farmers’ market.

There are few things better than a fresh coffee on a Saturday morning and visiting one of Denver’s great farmers’ markets.

In that spirit, we thought we would share with you a quick list of the best ones across the Front Range.

Courtesy of our friends at 5280 Magazine, read on for an impressive list that we wanted to share.

From Cherry Creek to City Park, Northfield, Stapleton, and beyond, Denver has an amazing variety of farmers’ markets to choose from.

We won’t tell you our favorite, but we will let you visit the list here.

We also liked Westword’s list of markets, and it can be found here.

We also wanted to share some specific links, so here are those:

Metro Denver Farmers Market

Finally, visit Denver put together a nice list as well, and it can be found here.

We will see you there!

What is “Jugging”?

At first glance, it sounds like it could be interesting. Maybe a cross between juggling and something else?

Sadly, it is much more sinister.

It seems the latest robbery trend involves teams of people setting up unsuspecting ATM users.

From the article on Fox News:

“The crime is known as “jugging,” a type of robbery in which criminals surveil banks and ATMs, watching for victims who withdraw large sums of money. When those victims finish their transactions, the “juggers” will usually follow them to a secondary location, where they will rob the victims, often inside their vehicles.

“Jugging rhymes with mugging, it’s spread from Texas to South Carolina,” Fox News Senior Correspondent Steve Harrigan said on “America Reports” on Friday. “Some police there weren’t even sure what the word meant until the crime started happening in their own districts. Law enforcement warns that it could be over in a flash.”

Wow, another way for criminals to invade our lives.

We found a fine piece by Colorado Credit Union that provides excellent advice on how to avoid falling victim to this dangerous new crime, and it is here.

Be safe and aware around ATM’s!!!!

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for May were Patricia Rodriguez, Maria Zapata, Haydee Espinosza, Irene Betancourt, and Silvia Anguiano.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Mayra Sotoa and Natalia Olivas.

We are so proud of our winners and of all the folks who are in and out of your homes each week.

We are also very appreciative to be a part of your lives and your homes. You provide the platform for our teams to perform, and for that, we are grateful.

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of May.

Denver Concierge prides itself on being client-driven. We believe that it is this approach that has earned us so many long-standing and loyal clients through the years.

Clients who share their good news and bad, daily happenings, and calamities. We are like a work family now.

I have been the point of contact since the beginning of the company, so I am basically the voice of the company, and the voice the clients know and interact with.

The voice that listens to instructions and concerns and grants a client’s request to alter instructions, switch days, cancel a clean, move a clean, move the time of a clean, or change a team. A very significant aspect of being client-driven is, of course, the ability to say yes.

But behind the scenes, making these changes actually happen is Maria, our General Manager. Among her multitudinous duties, she drives the schedule, from dispatch through the end of the workday.

I am the talk, but Maria is the walk.

On a daily, often hourly basis, Maria is making adjustments to the schedule to incorporate changes or cancellations, whether for the day in progress, the next day, or the next month.

Changes that often mean moving entire teams, rearranging the order of houses, and the locations where the teams need to be.

It is due to Maria’s creative solutions that I can so cavalierly say yes to clients. I am but the messenger.

It seems only yesterday, but Maria has just completed 25 years with Denver Concierge.

It is an impressive accomplishment that deserves more accolades than I have space for here, so I wish her..

Congratulations and Felicitaciones!

Bee

May Newsletter 2025

Denver Concierge on June 3, 2025

Memorial Day

Each year on the final Monday of May, we celebrate those who have given their lives for our country.

Over the years, we have covered the history of Memorial Day and why it exists. We wanted to revisit some of that history in this month’s newsletter, so here goes.

Did you know that Memorial Day used to be called Decoration Day?

It was originally meant to honor the Union and Confederate soldiers that died during the American Civil War. By the 1900’s it became a day to celebrate all Americans that have died in service around the world. It was renamed in 1967 and became a federal holiday in 1971.

Meanwhile, a few facts that you may not know about Memorial Day:

1. Congress passed a law in 2000 that requires all Americans to stop what they are doing at 3 PM on Memorial Day to remember and honor those who have died in action.

2. The flag is supposed to be flown at half-mast until noon, then raised to full mast until sunset on Memorial Day.

3. There were more American lives lost during the Civil War than the two World Wars combined. Approximately 620,000 died during the Civil War while approximately 116,516 died in World War I and approximately 405,399 died in World War II.

4. There are more than 400,000 fallen soldiers buried at Arlington Cemetery. On average, there are 25 burials there each day.

We take this time to honor the fallen and show our gratitude for the freedoms we have in our great country.

We hope you enjoy the three-day weekend with friends and family.

On a business-related note, we will be closed on Monday, May 26th to honor the fallen.

We will be back in the saddle on Tuesday, doing our best to keep Denver clean.

See below for just how clean Denver really is, as well as an update on the best neighborhoods in Denver, the end of the 16th Street Mall and more.

As always, thank you for supporting our small business and for reading our monthly newsletter!

The End of 16th Street “Mall”

You may have heard, the 16th Street Mall is no more.

That is a catchy headline, except it isn’t exactly true. The “Mall” part has officially been eliminated, however, and the new name will be 16th Street.

Hmmm, not the most original name we have ever heard. we kind of like “The Denver Way”, but we aren’t sure about that one either.

Regardless, this fall will culminate in a complete relaunch and rebranding of the old Mall area.

As a side note, we would have surely volunteered to help eliminate the “Mall” part for $100k, but we digress.

The ambitious project to upgrade the area began in 2022 and was supposed to be completed last year.

Like most projects of this size, it ran long and will be completed this fall.

From the article on the Denver Post:

“16th Street is not only the signature spine of our downtown, but the heart and the soul of our city, where our communities take center stage said Kourtny Garrett, president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership, during a press conference Tuesday.”

“The 1.25-mile stretch of storefronts, restaurants, hotels, and office towers has received a $175.4 million makeover on its original 13 blocks. The project, which started in April 2022 on Market Street, is nearing the home stretch on Broadway and should wrap up in the fall, a year behind schedule.”

“Rather than waiting for the crisp autumn air, the city, the Partnership and Visit Denver are hosting a series of events throughout the summer, starting with a 16th Street opening block party on Memorial Day at Welton Street, one of three newly permitted common consumption areas downtown where alcohol can be consumed and carried around in a designed zone.”

“DJ Fisher is the headliner in a concert lineup which will include other electronic dance music artists. Garrett said the outdoor concert is expected to draw thousands of younger fans.”

The full link to the Post article (paywalled) can be found here.

You can also find a good recap (for free) here, courtesy of CBS Denver.

We are happy to see Denver working to restore the old Mall area. We are hopeful that it will come back with less crime and be a much more vibrant area going forward.

It looks like this weekend’s block party on Memorial Day might be a good time to take a fresh look.

How Clean Is Denver?

You can imagine the headline about Denver and cleanliness caught our eye, since cleaning is why we exist!

When we saw that Oxi-Fresh had researched this, we had to take a look and share with you here.

Using seven criteria, each U.S. metro area was rated on air and drinking water quality, litter, vandalism, and the presence of rodents and cockroaches.

They also added in population density for the final of the seven.

So, how did we fare?

From the article on KDVR,

Here are Denver’s data points for the key factors in the study:

Population density: 360 people per square mile
Rodents: 9% of housing units show signs of mice, rats or other rodents inside in the past year
Cockroaches: 2.5% of housing units show signs of cockroaches inside in the past year
Vandalism: 91.9% of homes do not have vandalism or abandoned buildings within a half-block radius
Litter: 88.1% of homes do not have litter, trash or junk on the streets or properties within a half-block radius
Air quality: 78 days in 2024 when the Air Quality Index values were classified as ‘Good’ for all pollutants
Tap water quality: 12.5 different types of contaminants exceeding the Environmental Working Group health guidelines were detected in drinking water

This was good enough for 8th in the U.S. in terms of “cleanliness” earning a “B” grade.

The cleanest city in the U.S.? Portland, Oregon with the only A+ score issued. We were very surprised by a few of these, and we bet you will be too.

The full study and methodology can be found here.

Meanwhile, we hope that our efforts are helping keep Denver clean!

Best Denver Neighborhood 2025

2025 has brought a change to the top-rated neighborhood in Denver.

Each year, 5280 rates each Denver neighborhood using their normal criteria based on four variables: home prices, crime data, school rankings, and an X factor score that accounts for things that can’t be as easily quantified, such as access to open space, public transportation, and restaurants and shops.

In 2024, the winner was Wash Park. In 2025?

Dethroned by last year’s number 2, Berkeley, pictured above.

In fact, Washington Park dropped from the top spot all the way to 14th! It looks like real estate prices really hit them, as their other scores were all in the top 10.

Congratulations to the Berkeley area for claiming 2025’s top spot.

The rest of the top 5? Hilltop, Denver Country Club, Wellshire and Southmoor Park rounded out the top 5.

The complete list of Denver’s top neighborhoods can be found here, courtesy of 5280 Magazine.

We proudly serve all of these wonderful areas, and look forward to continuing to do so, regardless of where a neighborhood is rated!!

Denver’s New Adventure Park

URWRLD? Yep, that is a thing.

In fact, URWRLD is coming to Denver, and it is one of the more innovative adventure parks we have heard of.

Featuring ice climbing, canyoning, coasteering, spelunking, and surfing just to name a few, URWRLD is a park like no other.

From the recent article in the Denver Post, “At the intersection of Interstate 25 and Interstate 70 in Denver’s Globeville neighborhood, Fox Park is a 41-acre mixed-use community development that will feature 12-story office towers, an over 240-room Virgin Hotel, more than 3,400 residential units, a 20,000-square-foot grocery store, a mix of retail offerings, entertainment and 14 acres of interconnected parks and open space.”

“The company’s adventure facility will be in the World Trade Center complex, repurposing the former 320,000-square-foot Denver Post printing facility that was vacant for more than a decade.”

Very interesting indeed. While we love mixed-use developments and think it will be a fascinating project to watch, the new adventure park is the centerpiece of the project.

URWRLD brands itself as “An immersive experience like no other, and the first-of-its-kind, highly immersive active lifestyle destination, boasting 15 adventure sports and experiences in one indoor facility.

That sure seems to fit in with the Denver lifestyle.

9 News covered this as well and their take can be found here.

To learn more about URWRLD and their vision and mission, you can visit their website here.

What a fun and exciting project!

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for April were Sandra Vidales, Rosario De La Rosa, Silvia Anguiano, Maria Zapata and Aurora Dominguez.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Mayra Sotoa and Laura Varela.

We are so proud of our winners and of all the folks who are in and out of your homes each week.

We are also very appreciative to be a part of your lives and your homes. You provide the platform for our teams to perform, and for that we are grateful.

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of April.

Now that warm weather is finally here, some post-winter attention to decks, patios, pool houses, and outdoor furnishings will undoubtedly be on the agenda.

Denver Concierge is happy to help, whether regularly or as needed before a party, after a Denveresque windstorm, or just to clear away accumulated pollen fallen from the trees.

As for projects beyond our scope of expertise, we may also be able to help.

Finding a reputable company can be daunting and often ends in frustration. Let us know if you have a project coming up.

We keep a list of contractors in various fields, compiled over the years from our clients’ comments, recommendations, and referrals.

These are not large corporations or franchises, but generally family-owned and operated.

We support these companies for a reason. We like that their growth is controlled; their hiring keeps pace with the work they bid, which means taking the time necessary to find dedicated and knowledgeable workers.

Workers who know their capabilities vis-à-vis the time it takes to do the job properly. Much like Denver Concierge.

Companies whose sole aim is rapid growth often suffer large client turnover. Their employee base lags behind the jobs booked, resulting in incompetent and quick hires, which begets shoddy workmanship, client dissatisfaction, and ultimately loss of repeat business.

We prefer one satisfied client at a time who will recommend us to anyone who will listen, thus building solid, long-term relationships that, through the year, continue to grow and thrive and branch out.

Kind of like a tree in the springtime.

Happy Memorial Day!

Bee

April Newsletter 2025

Denver Concierge on May 6, 2025

National Mental Health Month

We love May. It typically warms up and feels like winter may be fully exiting. This spring has been rather mild in terms of late snow, so we are hopeful that May will bring lots of sunshine to all of us, both literally and figuratively.

How so, figuratively, you may wonder?

May happens to be National Mental Health Month across the U.S.

Shining a spotlight on the importance of mental well-being, the annual observance started back in 1949. Denver Concierge wasn’t here yet, but we can assuredly say that the need for awareness of mental health has never been stronger in our world than it is today.

Technology has taken away much of the human element of our interactions, and that, along with all the other modern-day stressors, can be overwhelming.

We have good days and bad as well, and while we hate the bad ones, we work really hard at trying to stay balanced and wanted to share some of the ideas we have found to do just that. Meanwhile, from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing website:

1 in 5 U.S. adults experiences mental illness each year.
1 in 20 U.S. adults experiences serious mental illness each year.
1 in 6 U.S. youth have a mental health condition, but only half receive treatment.
50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
In 2024, 22% of all high school students seriously considered suicide.

The last one really got us. The statistics on mental health and suicide can be found here, and the numbers are pretty shocking.

So, what can we all do to upgrade our mental and emotional hygiene? Some of the best tips we have run across include:

Moving Your Body: A 20-minute walk or yoga session can lift your spirits. Try free workout videos on YouTube or join a local fitness class.
Connecting Authentically: Schedule a coffee date or video call with a friend. Sharing stories builds emotional resilience.
Practicing Mindfulness: Apps like Calm or Headspace offer guided meditations to ease anxiety. Even five minutes daily can make a difference.
Setting Boundaries: Limit screen time or say “no” to non-essential tasks to protect your energy.
Seeking Help When Needed: Reach out to a therapist or use resources like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for immediate support.

The most difficult and recurring theme in our research? People don’t reach out for help. By far the saddest part for many folks that struggle is the stigma behind asking for help and the fear that they will be unfairly judged by others.

If you gain 30 pounds, you might go to a nutritionist, and no one would bat an eye. If you seek mental health assistance, however, people seem to view it differently.

One of our main goals in even featuring this topic is to encourage anyone feeling down to seek help, with no fear of stigma or judgment.

Finally, National Mental Health Month isn’t just about awareness—it’s a call to action. By embracing small, sustainable habits, you can cultivate a healthier mindset in 2025. Share these ideas, check in with others, and explore resources to make mental health a priority. Together, we can create a culture of care and connection.

Mental health is a foundation for living fully. Simple practices like mindfulness, exercise, or connecting with loved ones can boost mood and reduce stress. In 2025, technology offers new tools, like meditation apps or virtual support groups, making self-care more accessible.

We found some excellent resources that we wanted to share:

Our last thoughts? Check in with the ones you love. Whether you are the one struggling, or the one reaching out, human connection can solve a lot of the issues around mental health.

We wish you the best this May, and hope that you will join us in bringing awareness to improving our mental health.

Meanwhile, read on to learn about Colorado’s standing in both tax burden and happiness. We also cover how to start your own garden and why some unscrupulous people are using AI to get hired.

We hope you enjoy our April newsletter, and as always, thanks for reading!

Tax Burden by State

When it comes to taxes, we can probably all agree we pay too much.

Taxes seem to fall into that category of “things we complain about”, like traffic and the weather.

We decided to dive in and see just how much tax we pay in Colorado, and how it really compares with other states.

The chart above will give you a quick look at how Colorado stacks up. For more details, we can thank the folks at WalletHub. From the article:

“To determine the residents with the biggest tax burdens, WalletHub compared the 50 states based on the cost of three types of state tax burdens — property taxes, individual income taxes, and sales and excise taxes — as a share of total personal income in the state.”

Key Findings

Hawaii has the highest overall tax burden, while Alaska has the lowest.
Vermont has the highest property tax burden, while Alabama has the lowest.
New York has the highest individual income tax burden, while eight states (including Texas, Florida, and Washington) have none.
Hawaii has the highest sales and excise tax burden, while New Hampshire has the lowest.
Red states have a lower tax burden than blue states, on average.

Interestingly, many of us feel like we have super high taxes, but Colorado ended up in the middle of the pack, coming in at 26th overall at 8.73%.

Fascinating data, really, and sheds a lot of light on the complete picture of tax burden.

The complete article and study can be found here.

Fake Job Applicants?

Why? That was our first thought when the notion of “fake” job applicants came across our desk.

Why in the world would someone do this, and just how rampant is it?

Turns out that it is way more common these days than we thought, and here is why, and how it is being done.

It seems that this is primarily an issue with remote workers, and the IT segment gets hit the hardest.

The main and most obvious reason a normal person would do this would be to obtain a position they weren’t truly qualified for. They would then earn more money than their skill level should allow.

Working remotely, they could use AI to help solve problems that were “above their pay grade”. Sneaky, but we can see how that could work.

The larger reason? Bad actors from not-so-nice countries like North Korea, attempting to gain access to company data.

They can then install malware on company systems, and in theory could access all client, vendor, and employee data.

From the article on CNBC, “Gen AI has blurred the line between what it is to be human and what it means to be machine,” Vijay Balasubramaniyan, CEO of Pindrop, said. “What we’re seeing is that individuals are using these fake identities and fake faces and fake voices to secure employment, even sometimes going so far as doing a face swap with another individual who shows up for the job.”

In fact, the article goes on to state that by 2028 globally, 1 in 4 job applicants will be fake.

That is a stunning number.

While tech and crypto industries are being hit the hardest, there are also examples from other industries such as television networks, defense contractors, and automakers.

Quite the revelation, especially for those hiring for remote work.

This very informative article by MSNBC can be found here. Worth a read for sure, especially for those of you hiring remote workers.

Finally, we found a few great articles on how to see through fake applicants and protect your company, they are below.

Hellersearch, September 2024

HRDive.com, July 2022

Ashby, October 2024

Beware out there, folks, lots of bad actors. We hope you learned as much as we did about this strange but understandable phenomenon.

Start Your Own Garden

It seems we spent the first few months of the year talking about egg prices.

We aren’t sure that is the proper barometer for economic analysis, but we do know that grocery shopping is way more expensive than it used to be.

Along the way, we have heard from lots of you that you are looking to grow your own vegetables at home.

We don’t blame you, and if you are on the fence (no pun intended), here are the pros and cons of starting your own vegetable garden.

Leave it to Gardenary to come up with a fabulous primer on How to Start a Garden.

They go through the 9 steps to successfully create a garden, everything from location, design, and materials.

Pretty cool, and comprehensive.

So, what are the pros? Kind of obvious, really, lower food costs, for starters. Also, gardening promotes physical health through exercise, reduces stress, and enhances mental well-being.

It provides fresh, organic produce, saving money and ensuring quality. Gardens boost property aesthetics and support local biodiversity by attracting pollinators. You control what grows, tailoring it to your preferences.

The cons? Gardening demands time, effort, and consistent maintenance. Initial costs for tools, seeds, and soil can be high. Pests, weather, and soil issues may frustrate beginners.

Space limitations can restrict garden size, and learning curves may lead to trial-and-error losses before mastering techniques.

We also recommend checking with your HOA/covenants (if you have them) to make sure you aren’t violating any rules there.

Beyond that, we say go for it. We have seen many beautiful gardens in the backyards of homes and expect to see more in the future.

Happy gardening!

Happiness by State 2025

Yes, we love a good survey. Especially when it involves being happy.

We are generally happy, but just “how happy” is our fine state?

Back to the survey-loving folks at WalletHub to come to our rescue.

In one of the greatest juxtapositions of all time, want to guess the happiest state of them all?

It would be the highest taxed state in the U.S. from the above article on taxes….Hawaii.

Highest taxes, highest happiness? Odd indeed.

WalletHub ranked every state on emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community, with Hawaii leading the way.

While this is not a “misery index”, the least happy state? Louisiana.

So, how did our fine state fare? Not very well, sadly.

We came in 35th. Our best ranking? Work environment. We were all the way at the bottom of the Community & Environment section, falling all the way to 48th.

That ranking includes volunteerism, ideal weather, leisure time spent, separation and divorce, and safety.

We can only guess at why we fell so far, but we have an abundance of leisure activity, so we might guess weather and/or safety.

Regardless, it’s sort of surprising that our wonderful state is only 35/50 in happiness.

The complete article with the very thorough methodology can be found here.

In the words of Bobby McFerrin, “Don’t worry, be happy.“

We wish that for all of us in 2025 and beyond.

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for March were Patricia Rodriguez, Sandra Vidales, Maria Zapata, Aurora Dominguez, and Socorro Gonzalez.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Laura Varela and Martha Rosales.

We are so proud of our winners and of all the folks who are in and out of your homes each week.

We are also very appreciative to be a part of your lives and your homes. You provide the platform for our teams to perform, and for that we are grateful.

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of March.

One of the common questions we are asked is, “Will Denver Concierge water my indoor house plants?”

The answer is yes, when requested, and with proper instructions, we will gladly water house plants.

We love plants, and far from simply adding beauty to your decor, they are also our helpers!

While we clean the nooks and crannies, plants like the Spider Plant and Peace Lilly, Bamboo Palm and Rubber Plant are working to keep the air inside your home free and clear of toxins, mold, dust, allergens, and chemicals.

Pretty impressive.

The Spider Plant absorbs mold and allergens while reducing dust in the air.

The Peace Lilly filters out toxic gases.

The Bamboo Palm is a natural humidifier.

The Rubber Plant removes chemical substances from indoor air.

Plants can ionize the air, which helps to clump dust particles together, causing them to fall to the ground rather than floating in the air.

They can also absorb volatile organic compounds, which are gases emitted by various household products and building materials.

Are plants sentient beings?

Maybe, maybe not, but they are living creatures, like the family dog or cat, bird, rabbit, or tortoise, and as such deserve the same care and pampering.

As we offer a treat to the dog, pet the cats (almost always plural), acknowledge the other household critters with a word or gesture, how do we know when we water the flora that they are not equally pleased by the attention?

Einstein said we free ourselves by widening our compassion for all living creatures.

That is what we strive for.

Bee

March Newsletter 2025

Denver Concierge on April 3, 2025

Allergy Survival Season

Last month, we discussed spring cleaning and how to prepare your home for the change of seasons.

This month we want to dive into allergies, as spring in Denver is beautiful, but for allergy sufferers, it can be a nightmare.

Pollen, dust, and pet dander can make their way into your home, triggering sneezing, congestion, and itchy eyes. The good news? A cleaner home can help minimize allergens and keep you breathing easier. Here’s how professional cleaning along with a dose of diligence can make a difference:

1. Reduce Indoor Pollen and Dust

Pollen from trees, grasses, and flowers can settle on surfaces and in carpets, making indoor allergies just as bad as outdoor ones. Regular deep cleaning, including dusting with microfiber cloths and vacuuming with HEPA filters (which we use), helps remove these allergens before they circulate through the air.

2. Improve Indoor Air Quality

Airborne allergens often settle in air ducts, vents, and ceiling fans. Our service ensures these areas are properly cleaned, preventing allergens from being recirculated throughout your home. We also recommend changing HVAC filters every 1-2 months to trap dust, pet hair, and pollen effectively. You can also hire companies to completely clean your ventilation systems and air ducts, which the EPA covers the pros and cons of here.

3. Deep Clean Fabrics and Upholstery

Soft surfaces like carpets, rugs, and furniture trap allergens, making them a hidden trigger for allergy symptoms. Steam cleaning these areas removes dust mites, pet dander, and pollen buildup. Washing bedding, curtains, and throw blankets weekly in hot water is another effective way to reduce allergens.

4. Keep Mold and Mildew at Bay

Spring’s fluctuating temperatures and moisture can lead to mold growth, another common allergen. Our cleaning services target bathrooms, kitchens, and damp areas where mold tends to grow, helping to keep your home fresh and healthy.

At Denver Concierge, we specialize in allergy-proofing homes so you can enjoy the season without the sniffles. We are always here for a deep-cleaning that will help you breathe easier this spring!

We found a great resource to measure pollen counts and help prepare you for the worst days, courtesy of IQ Air, and it can be found here.

Finally, if you have it bad like we do, here is a good recap of over-the-counter allergy medicine and any potential side effects, courtesy of GoodRX.

Enjoy spring!

Denver’s Restaurant Crisis

Restaurants in the Denver area are in a deep crisis.

We were stunned to learn that in just three years, Denver has lost 22% of its restaurants.

At the end of 2021, there were 2,166 eateries licensed in Denver, and that number is now 1,693.

Not a good trend.

If you are a regular reader, you will know that we have always supported the restaurant industry in Denver.

We have many clients and partners in this space, and we do everything we can to keep them going.

The demise of local fixtures like Racine’s, The Market, Fruition, and White Fence Farm has been tragic, to say the least.

While the pandemic did many of these in, increased labor costs and inflation are squeezing the life out of many of our favorite eateries.

While we love to offer solutions here, we aren’t sure there is one in the current climate, short of eating out more and keeping abreast of legislation that could ease the pressures.

Colorado legislators are working on bills to assist restaurants in surviving the economic headwind they are currently facing.

The Colorado Restaurant Relief Act is being proposed to help with tip offsets, and the Colorado Restaurant Association is leading the way to support the industry.

Beyond visiting our favorite local dining spots, there isn’t a ton we can do.

They say awareness is the first step to recovery, so please support your local restaurants, or they may not be here tomorrow.

A sad list of closures (and some new openings) in 2024 was published by 5280 Magazine and it can be found here.

Partners We Love

It has been a while since we have put anyone in the “Partners We Love” category.

Mainly because we are super picky about who we put here.

Our reputation is all we have, so when we discover someone who merits inclusion here, we can promise they are good.

North Metro Plumbing fits the bill perfectly.

Paul Hojaboom, the owner (that’s him up there in the cool shades) is one of the finest service people we have ever met.

Our experience with repair people and contractors is always a crap shoot, but not with Paul.

He answers his phone, responds immediately, and his pricing is fair. More importantly, his work is flawless.

We used him for a pretty big job last winter, which involved cold weather, broken pipes, and lots of diligence to ensure the problem was resolved.

He did that and more. We have also used him several other times, and he is consistently the best plumber we have run across.

We highly recommend North Metro Plumbing. You can reach Paul directly at 720-404-9413 or via email here.

Finally, we don’t receive anything from our “partners”, it’s just our way of sharing excellent service providers with our wonderful subscribers.

Let’s hope you don’t need one, but if you do need a plumber, give Paul a call, you won’t regret it.

How’s Your Hygiene?

What an odd way to start a segment, and for purposes of this newsletter, it is purely rhetorical.

That said, as a cleaning company we always love to share tips about cleanliness, and this piece we found on Medium does the trick.

The article, titled “6 Everyday Habits That Make you Look Unhygienic” caught our eye and we wanted to share with you.

For starters, how many of us keep our toothbrush uncovered in the bathroom?

Again, don’t raise your hand, but you should know that this is a no-no. From the article:

“A study by the American Society for Microbiology has shown that toothbrushes stored in shared bathrooms tested positive for fecal matter in 60% of cases.'”

Every time you flush the toilet, an invisible cloud of microscopic bacteria called “toilet plume” is released into the air and can travel up to six feet, landing on nearby surfaces, including your toothbrush.”

“If you store your toothbrush near the sink or toilet, it’s likely collecting bacteria every time someone flushes.”

Yikes.

The article goes on to cover bath towel and loofah usage, pajamas, and reusable water bottles.

Oh, and lastly, about your favorite earbuds, and from the article:

“Earbuds trap sweat, earwax, and bacteria, creating a perfect environment for fungus and harmful microbes to grow.”

“When you put dirty earbuds back in your ears, you transfer these bacteria directly into your ear canal, increasing the risk of ear infections and irritation.”

“In a study by HealthLine, it was discovered that earbuds can carry hundreds of thousands of bacteria, which are known to cause ear infections and skin breakouts.”

Some great hygiene tips, and some things we hadn’t given enough thought to.

The complete article on hygiene courtesy of Medium can be found here.

We need to clean up our act, no pun intended (well maybe a small one)!

What is the 10 Minute Rule?

That dude above in the photo is Steve Jobs, founder of Apple.

We think he was a pretty smart cookie, so when we saw the “10 Minute Rule” we had to dive in.

The most recent neuroscience backs up this concept, so let’s explore it together.

When humans are faced with a tough problem, most of us double down on thinking about it, looking for solutions, and digging into resources to help us solve it.

Of course, these are tried and true strategies, but there are other ways to unlock how your mind attacks these challenging problems.

The answer?

Take a walk.

Yes, it is that simple. Jobs believed that any problem that could not be solved in 10 minutes required a walk.

From the article, “Taking a long walk was his preferred way to have a serious conversation,” reports Jobs biographer Walter Isaacson. “So much of our time together was spent quietly walking,” recalled legendary designer Jony Ives. Read any profile or book on Jobs, and you’ll find he spends a great deal of it padding around barefoot.”

“Jobs’s constant roaming wasn’t just about a love of the outdoors or physical exercise. The late Apple boss intuited something that neuroscience is now proving — walking makes your brain work a little bit better, helping you crack problems that stumped you while sitting.”

“Taking a walk “keeps you in the right alert mental state, so you don’t just drift off, you don’t just fall asleep, or feel lethargic, or [look] at your phone. But at the same time, it keeps your attention moving, because your surroundings are moving while you walk, so your attention can’t really fix on anything. So it drifts into your head and explores your problems and tries to solve them from different avenues,”

So there you have it, when you are stuck, get up and walk. If it worked for Jobs, we think it will work for us.

The complete article on Inc. can be found here.

We hope this helps you solve those tough problems!

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for February were Rosario De La Rosa, Silvia Anguiano, Maria Zapata, Patricia Rodriguez, and Aurora Dominguez.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Mayra Soto and Isela Mendoza.

We are so proud of our winners and of all the ladies who are in and out of your homes each week.

We are also very appreciative of being a part of your lives and your homes. You provide the platform for our teams to perform, and for that we are grateful.

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of February.

How is Denver Concierge different from other cleaning companies?

For starters, our employees are paid by the hour, not by the house. This includes drive time, time awaiting access to a home, time lost en route, and time stuck in traffic.

We also have a very low employee turnover rate. Many of our ladies have been with us for over 20 years, creating a solid base which allows our clients continuity and the security of knowing who is in their home.

Because our employees are not paid by the house (see above), they are not clock watchers. Their focus is on doing the best job they can, efficiently, attentively, and thoroughly.

A schedule of assigned houses is issued daily by the office, with sufficient leeway to allow clients flexibility in their instructions.

Our employees also understand the importance of reporting a breakage or accident in the home. This simple act reassures our clients that we care about their furnishings and accept responsibility.

Denver Concierge is available to clients throughout the day via phone or text, and we even do our best to respond on weekends.

This way, any last-minute instructions or requests for the team, such as package delivery or pet concerns, can be communicated immediately.

Bottom line, we have worked for many years as a cohesive entity, developing and honing our skills and style, allowing us to become a thing apart in the cleaning industry.

We hope you agree.

Bee

February Newsletter 2025

Denver Concierge on March 5, 2025

Prepping for Spring

Hello, loyal readers, and welcome to the February edition of one of our favorite things, the monthly newsletter.

After enduring some bitter cold, spring is around the corner yet again. That makes us very happy here at Denver Concierge.

In that spirit, we wanted to provide a checklist of things to take a peek at this spring around your homes. Of course, since you are a client of ours, there won’t be as much to do, but we wanted to provide some other ideas that might propel you towards happy, warmer days.

Our quick checklist:

1. For Starters, Plan Around the Weather

Denver’s spring weather can be unpredictable, so check the forecast. Choose a warm, dry day to open windows for ventilation while cleaning.

2. Tackle Winter Dust & Allergens

Denver’s dry winter air can lead to dust buildup. Use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe down surfaces. We use only microfiber cloths in your home.
Vacuum with a HEPA filter to remove allergens like pet dander and pollen that start circulating in spring. We also have HEPA filters in our vacuums.
Clean or replace furnace and air filters to improve indoor air quality.

3. Deep Clean Windows & Screens

Snow and windstorms leave grime on windows. Use a vinegar-water mix or a streak-free glass cleaner.
Remove and hose down window screens to clear out trapped dust.

4. Declutter and Donate

Spring is a great time to sort through winter gear. Donate coats, boots, and snow gear you no longer use.
Denver has great donation centers like Goodwill, ARC, and the Salvation Army.

5. Refresh Outdoor Spaces

Sweep porches, patios, and sidewalks to clear out winter debris.
Clean patio furniture and prep your garden beds for planting.
Ask Angela about this, our ladies can help!

6. Mind the Altitude for Cleaning Solutions

Some cleaning products evaporate quickly in Denver’s dry air. Use a little extra liquid for solutions like mopping floors to avoid streaks.

7. Check for Seasonal Home Maintenance Needs

Clean out gutters after heavy snowfall.
Inspect your roof for damage from ice and snow.
Check your sprinkler system before turning it on for spring.

8. Organize for the Changing Seasons

Rotate seasonal clothing—store away heavy coats and bring out lighter layers.
Swap out winter bedding for something more breathable.

That should get you started. Before you begin, let’s take a moment and dive into the February newsletter.

This month, we cover the new Real ID requirements, Denver’s gas station ban, and when (if ever) the DIA great hall project will be done. We also look at Denver’s dropping (wait, what?) rents, along with our always loveable Queen Bee and monthly award winners.

Read on, loyal follower, to learn more.

Meanwhile, we hope you are enjoying the early peek at spring, and as always, we thank you for reading and being a part of the Denver Concierge family.

Real ID Program

You may have heard that new identification is required for travel beginning in May of 2025.

The identification, known as a “Real ID”, was originally to be enacted way back in 2008, based on the REAL ID act from 2005.

The law was delayed a few times and was set to begin in 2020, but COVID derailed those plans.

Starting May 7 of this year, however, that changes.

The good news? Colorado has been Real ID compliant for a long time, going back to 2012. How can you tell if you have a compliant ID? If there is a star in the upper right (see photo above), you are good to go.

If there is no star? You have options.

You can renew your license/ID online or through the MyColorado app.

You can also use a valid passport or military ID if you have one.

The full explanation of the Real ID program in Colorado can be found here.

Good luck and safe travels! Read on to see what is happening at DIA these days.

Denver Gas Station Ban

Do you think there are too many gas stations in Denver?

We aren’t sure, but it seems the Denver City Council is.

Just this month, they blocked the construction of gas stations near train stops, low-density residential neighborhoods, and existing gas stations.

Sponsors say the ban will open more land for housing, restaurants, and other uses.

On the other side of the fence are commercial real estate developers who objected to the new law that will hamper development in Denver.

The bill, sponsored by three city council members, passed 12-1. What does it mean?

Gas stations are now prohibited:

Within a quarter mile of an existing gas station
Within a quarter mile of a rail transit station platform
Within 300 feet of low-intensity residential zone districts dedicated to single- and two-unit buildings.

We found a comprehensive article covering this topic, courtesy of Denverite, and it can be found here.

We aren’t smart enough to understand all the implications of this, but it is certainly a hot topic in our fine city.

Denver Rents Dropping

Yes, you read that correctly, Denver residential rents are dropping.

Well, you might think flight from the city to the suburbs is the reason behind this, but that would seem to be incorrect.

This looks like good ol’ supply and demand catching up.

In fact, of the 50 largest metro areas, 47 of them showed rent increases. On top of that, Denver led the entire U.S. in rent decline, showing a drop of 0.4%.

From the article in the Denver Business Journal, “Rent costs in the Denver-metro area recorded the largest monthly decline in the nation in January, according to Zillow’s monthly rental report.”

“Denver was one of 11 major metro areas where monthly rental rates fell, leading the way at a 0.4% decline in January rent costs, the report shows. Cincinnati and Birmingham tied for second place with a decline of 0.2%.”

“Denver also led the nation in its annual increase in the share of listings offering renters concessions, which jumped 20.7 percentage points year over year. That was followed by Nashville at 17.2 percentage points. Concessions increased from year-ago levels in 48 of the 50 largest metro areas.”

“In January 67.2% of rental listings in Denver included concessions, Zillow found — a far higher rate than the U.S. average.”

Wow, that stunned us. It seems that all the building in and around Denver has finally caught up, ala supply and demand.

Nearly 20,000 new apartment units came online in 2024, with more coming in 2025.

Hopefully the market will work itself out, but for now, renters in Denver are getting a big break.

If any of you are renegotiating leases, now seems like a great time to ask for some goodies from the landlord.

The complete article from the DBJ is here.

A non-paywalled version from 9 News can be found here.

DIA Update

It seems like we have been covering the airport renewal project for 10 years.

It’s close, as this project started in 2018. Through the years, we have been fairly critical of this entire thing, mainly due to budget misses and overruns.

Along the way, new vendors have been chosen, and the entire project has seemingly been plagued from the start with problems.

That said, we are approaching the end of this debacle. If you have been to DIA lately, you have seen the new security and TSA setup on one side of the airport.

The rest is coming, or so they say.

This month, the CEO of DIA, Phil Washington, presented the renderings and vision for the final phase of the project.

Scheduled to be completed in 2027, the final phase will include an additional runway, extension of concourse C by 11 gates, and improvements to Pena Boulevard.

It also looks like we will be getting new train cars, replacing the 14 that currently move folks out and back to the concourses.

In 2023, DIA served just under 78 million passengers with that number slated to rise to 120 million in the next 20 years.

CBS News did a fine article on the project and it can be found here.

DIA’s take on the project can be found here as well.

It will be a fine day when our airport is where it needs to be, even if it’s still two years out.

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for January were Maria Zapata, Patricia Rodriguez, Aurora Dominguez, Rosario De La Rosa, and Josefina Quinonez.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Isela Mendoza and Analili Garcia.

We are so proud of our winners, and of all the ladies that are in and out of your homes each week.

We are also very appreciative of being a part of your lives and your homes. You provide the platform for our teams to perform, and for that we are grateful.

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of January.

Through the years Denver Concierge has been in business, I have received the random client comment that one of our ladies has not negotiated the sink disposal properly or has turned the faucet the wrong way and somehow loosened it.

Along the way, maybe a comment or two on patio doors not being locked properly or the stove or coffee machine not being put back together correctly.

These are always valuable comments, and we consistently take quick measures to make sure they don’t recur.

As newer homes are built and older houses refurbished and updated, more complicated accoutrements are often brought in to simplify, fortify, or please the eye.

These are not always user-friendly or, for that matter, obvious in their function. I have a fair collection of photos clients have sent of instructions for everything from trash cans to electric blinds, shower heads to toilets.

We’ve certainly come a long way since the Middle Ages when kitchens didn’t even exist. Cooking was done where there was a place for fire, usually in the main room with drying clothes and a pig or two.

Back to the present, the ladies do their best to negotiate their way through the houses, with each house being different and subject to upgrades with no notice.

As well as concentrating on their cleaning, they also need to keep in mind the functioning of many elements of the house.

Having said that, we do want to avoid damage and subsequent client inconvenience if possible, so I welcome any photos, instructions, or warnings that I can pass on to the teams to help avert mishaps.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Bee

January Newsletter 2025

Denver Concierge on February 4, 2025

Will You “Bee” Our Valentine?

Ok, not literally, as the kids say, but we figured we would throw it out there. Mainly because we aren’t sure how that would work logistically. Please know that we love you all year though, regardless of the holiday!

It also allowed us to shamelessly squeeze our Queen Bee Angela into the headline. Her always interesting monthly content is below, per usual.

Back to business, February indeed marks the loveliest of holidays, Valentine’s Day. While we don’t typically get that day off, and the banks are open, some of you folks out there know that messing this one up can have grave consequences!

In that spirit, we wanted to give out some good Valentine’s Day ideas that might not be as traditional. It’s easy to give red roses and go to dinner, but to that, we say “boring”.

Read here to see why you should avoid dining out on Valentine’s Day.

We found a fun and creative list of stuff on Buzzfeed. We really love the “burrito blanket”, for what it’s worth. The full list of 53 ideas can be found here.

A more traditional list can be found here, courtesy of ClassPop, also with some great ideas.

Enough about Valentine’s Day, you say, what else is in this month’s newsletter?

We are glad you asked.

We have some great new stuff this month, headlined by our annual winners in the Cleaning Associate and Team Leader ranks, including a rare back-to-back winner!

This is a big honor and is the culmination of a full year’s worth of work, your reviews and input. We thank you for that.

Read on to see who the 2024 best of the best at Denver Concierge were.

We also have one of our regular guest writers, Zoe Houston who provides a wonderful piece on living multi-generationally, which is more and more common these days.

We fill you in on Denver’s newest hospital, coming soon and we go into detail on just what it really costs to own a car.

Finally, doomscrolling and you. What is it, and why is it bad for us?

See, lots of interesting stuff, as promised!

We hope you enjoy and we really hope that those of you responsible for Valentine’s Day do it right!!!

Enjoy our January newsletter!

New Hospitals Coming Soon

It looks like Denver will be getting a brand-new medical center in the near future.

Enter AdventHealth, the latest to announce a groundbreaking for a new facility.

Located south of DIA, construction is now beginning on a 40-acre campus located in The Aurora Highlands, a master-planned community on the east side of E-470.

From the article in the Denver Business Journal, “The land will first be used to build an $81 million, 88,000 square-foot facility that includes a freestanding emergency clinic — Aurora Highlands ER — an outpatient imaging center, and shelled clinic space, the health system said.”

“After the clinic’s expected opening in September 2026, an acute care hospital rated for Level III trauma could follow in just a few years, said Michael Goebel, CEO of AdventHealth Parker Hospital and Aurora Highlands ER.”

It should be noted that this is the second major hospital project to hit the Denver area recently.

CommonSpirit in November purchased a 42-acre property in Douglas County’s unincorporated Meridian community to build a major medical campus offering yet-unnamed health care services. The project is expected to break ground in the third quarter of 2025.

Exciting news for a system that seems like it could use some new capacity.

The complete article courtesy of DBJ can be found here.

If you are interested in statistics for all the hospitals in Colorado, we found a cool site here, courtesy of the American Hospital Directory.

Multi-Generational Living

By Guest Writer Zoe Houston

In today’s fast-paced world, the concept of a multigenerational home is gaining renewed interest, offering a unique blend of tradition and modernity. Living under one roof with grandparents, parents, and children can foster deep familial bonds and shared experiences. However, it also requires thoughtful planning to ensure that each generation’s needs are met. By focusing on space optimization, cultural celebration, and technological integration, families can create a harmonious environment that respects and values every member.

Enhance Your Home with Vertical Storage

Utilizing vertical storage solutions is an effective way to optimize space in a multigenerational household. By incorporating elements like stacking drawers or wall-mounted shelves, you can expand your storage capacity without sacrificing floor space. Transform unused wall areas with a pegboard or floating shelves to accommodate various items, from kitchen supplies to personal belongings. These strategies not only help in organizing belongings efficiently but also contribute to a tidier and more harmonious home environment.

Maximize Space with Digital Solutions

In a home where space is at a premium, digitizing documents can be a game-changer. By converting paper records into digital formats, you can eliminate the need for bulky storage solutions like file cabinets. This not only declutters your home but also enhances accessibility and security. Saving your documents as PDFs ensures they retain their original formatting and are secure. You can give this a try with a PDF maker, which allows you to create or convert any document into a PDF. Embracing digital solutions helps you maintain an organized and efficient household, allowing more time for family bonding.

Create Harmonious Outdoor Spaces

Designing versatile outdoor spaces can greatly enhance family bonding across generations. Transform your patio into a multifunctional haven where you can host gatherings, share meals, or simply unwind. Consider adding features like outdoor heaters or fire pits to ensure comfort during cooler months. Incorporating elements such as yoga platforms or meditation corners can promote wellness and offer a peaceful retreat. By investing in these adaptable outdoor areas, you create a welcoming environment where family members can connect and enjoy each other’s company.

Celebrate Cultural Heritage

Celebrating and understanding the diverse cultural backgrounds within your family is key to creating a harmonious home. Hosting cultural heritage days allows family members to share stories, traditions, and recipes passed down through generations. Activities like cooking demonstrations of traditional dishes or engaging in ancestral games can make these gatherings both educational and enjoyable. This approach preserves cultural legacies and ensures that younger generations appreciate and continue these traditions.

Build Stronger Family Connections

Cultivating active listening skills among younger family members is essential for nurturing empathy and understanding across generations. Encourage them to maintain eye contact and adopt open body language to facilitate meaningful interactions with older relatives. Techniques like paraphrasing and summarizing what they hear ensure they genuinely grasp their elders’ perspectives. This approach strengthens family bonds and enhances critical thinking and problem-solving skills, contributing to a more harmonious home where everyone feels valued.

Integrate Wearable Health Tech

Incorporating wearable health technology into your household can greatly enhance the well-being and security of older family members. Devices like smartwatches and activity trackers continuously monitor vital health metrics, motivating healthier living and offering peace of mind to family members. This reduces the need for frequent clinical visits, allowing seniors to manage chronic conditions more independently. Fostering an environment where health is actively monitored can help all generations thrive together.

Craft a Family Heritage Album

Building a family cultural heritage album is a fantastic way to foster harmony in your home. This collaborative project brings grandparents, parents, and children together to document and celebrate your family’s unique history. You create a visual narrative that strengthens intergenerational bonds by capturing moments such as weddings, births, and cultural ceremonies. Each family member can contribute their stories and perspectives, enriching the album’s content. This endeavor preserves your family’s legacy and deepens the understanding and appreciation of your shared heritage.

A multigenerational home thrives with mutual respect, shared experiences, and a deep appreciation for each family member’s unique needs. Thoughtfully managing space ensures everyone has privacy while fostering communal moments. Embracing cultural traditions enriches daily life, creating bonds that span generations. Integrating technology can bridge gaps, making it easier for everyone to stay connected and engaged. By addressing these aspects with care, families can craft a nurturing environment where love, understanding, and support flourish, ensuring each generation feels valued, connected, and empowered to grow.

Discover the unparalleled cleanliness and comfort only Denver Concierge can provide, and transform your home into a welcoming haven today!

Are You a Doomscroller?

Ah, yes, the old internet “rabbit hole”, which I am sure we are all guilty of going down at times.

It made us wonder when we saw the term “doomscrolling”, which is exactly what it sounds like.

It got us wondering what are the effects of the content we ingest from our devices and how do we find a way to make it healthier for us?

Did you know that each day, the average person spends about 108 minutes scrolling on social media? In that time, one’s thumb travels approximately 38,880 centimeters, roughly the height of the Empire State Building. Wow.

There have also been many studies that show very plainly that negativity drives our online consumption.

So, what are the effects of all the negative stuff we ingest from the internet?

From an article in the Guardian, “Doomscrolling is the tendency to continue to surf or scroll through bad news, even though that news is saddening, disheartening or depressing, a practice researchers found has boomed since the onset of the pandemic.”

The study, published in the journal Health Communication, found 16.5% of about 1,100 people surveyed showed signs of “severely problematic” news consumption, leading to greater levels stress, anxiety and poor health.

Associate Prof Bryan McLaughlin, the study’s lead author and a researcher at Texas Tech University, said the 24-hour news cycle could bring about a “constant state of high alert” in some people, making the world seem like a “dark and dangerous place”.

“For these individuals, a vicious cycle can develop in which, rather than tuning out, they become drawn further in, obsessing over the news and checking for updates around the clock to alleviate their emotional distress,” he said.

Wow, heavy stuff that we probably don’t pay enough attention to.

If any of this applies to you, we found a few useful resources to help. The first, from SoCal Health can be found here.

Finally, from Jefferson Health, a good set of ideas as well can be found here.

As someone smarter than we are once said “awareness is the first step”.

We hope this helps make all of us more aware of what we put into our brains directly from our phones.

There is a reason the 2024 Oxford word of the year ties directly into this concept, click here if you are curious as to what that word is.

Stay wise and discerning, Denver, and don’t take the negativity bait!

What Does it Cost to Drive Your Car?

How much does it really cost to own and operate a vehicle?

We decided to ponder this because it’s way more expensive than we realized, and it’s gone up a lot over the past five years.

Also, we have quite a few running around town, so this is especially important to us as well.

We went to the experts at AAA, who do this for a living, and here is what we found.

In 2024, the annual average cost to operate a new vehicle was just north of $12,000. This assumes an annual mileage of 15,000. Costs will obviously go up if you drive more than that.

Of course, this depends on the vehicle you drive, whether it is financed, etc.

From an average maintenance cost, you should plan on at least $1000 per year minimum to maintain your vehicle.

Consumer Affairs did a nice breakdown of repair costs in both the scheduled and unscheduled variety and it can be found here.

The problem for many of us is that we view the cost of the vehicle much too simply, looking at our payment with little regard to all the costs that come with it.

We found a very useful calculator, courtesy of Edmunds, that allows you to put in all the info about your vehicle and get a good look at actual cost, it is here.

All this lovely data is centered around planned maintenance. If you have an older car, or bad luck, the unexpected costs can really be surprising.

A new air conditioning compressor, for example? $1300-2600. Fuel pump? $1000.

And finally, “According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of car maintenance and repair has gone up 36.2% from 2019 to 2024.”

That is a massive increase in operating costs.

It is also a lot to digest, but suffice it to say there are lots of big costs that many of us don’t think about when we purchase a car.

Here’s to better information and making sure we have no surprises in our future when it comes to our cars.

Monthly & Annual Award Winners

We love this time of year, as we get to recognize our top performers for 2024.

Before we do that, our monthly award winners for December were Maria Zapata, Sandra Vidales, Patricia Rodriguez, Josefina Quinonez, and Rosario De La Rosa.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Mayra Soto and Socorro Ibarra.

For 2024, we are proud to announce our top Cleaning Associate, Maria Zapata. The runners-up were Nimia Espinoza and Josefina Quinones.

More impressively, this is a back-to-back win for Maria Zapata. What a great honor and consistent performance.

As Team Leaders go, our winner was Socorro Ibarra. Runners-up were Mayra Soto and Isela Mendoza.

Interestingly, last year, Mayra won and Socorro was second, this year reversed. Outstanding performance indeed!

Huge congratulations to all of you, we are so grateful for your contributions.

Thanks to our clients for letting us be a part of your lives and your homes. You provide the platform for our teams to perform, and for that we are grateful.

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of December, and for 2024.

December Newsletter 2024

Denver Concierge on January 7, 2025

2024 Musings & Welcome 2025

Welcome to the last day of 2024! It’s been a fun and productive year here at Denver Concierge, and we have proudly enjoyed every minute of serving you.

We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for supporting our small business. Our work is not without challenges, like getting our folks and equipment to you, managing the inevitable mishaps, and dealing with the unpredictable Colorado weather.

Through it all, we were determined to make sure your home is spotless, and we sure hope we achieved that goal across the board.

Our very own Queen Bee covers some of the more interesting challenges we overcame in 2024, read on to learn more!

Looking into 2025, the new year always brings change. As we have outlined here in past newsletters, there are some new laws on the books to be aware of.

Don’t forget the new hands-free cellphone usage laws, rules for car seats, and gun storage laws for your vehicle, just to name a few. The price of eggs will likely be going up too, due to new cage-free laws hitting the books tomorrow.

Crossing the HOV solid line will also cost you in new places, so beware.

For Denver Concierge and many other small businesses, 2025 will not be without its challenges, as we continue to face increased costs across the board. The minimum wage will be going up around 3%, statewide, from $14.42 to $14.82.

As you may already know, any business operating in Denver (like ours) will be subject to a minimum wage of $18.81, up from $18.29 last year.

Employee-friendly legislation is also at the forefront, as businesses are now funding Colorado Secure Savings, FAMLI Leave Act, and enhanced sick pay provisions, all of which have arisen in the past few years.

While there are lots of headwinds for small businesses, we always favor taking care of our associates.

We remain focused on efficiency and doing all we can to operate in the best possible ways to reduce our costs and keep our service affordable and the best in class.

A good recap of the main law changes can be found here, courtesy of NPR/KUNC.

This month, you will find more great content below.

We talk about why traffic stops are down in Denver, we have a wonderful guest writer who will teach you all about Denver’s hard water problem, and we cover Denver’s best neighborhoods as determined by 5280 Magazine.

We also take a quick look at some school closures by DPS, as part of their consolidation plans.

Thank you again for reading and for being part of the Denver Concierge family. As always, we are here to ensure your home is spotless and to provide the world-class service we hope you are accustomed to.

From our office staff of Angela (Queen Bee), Maria (who will be celebrating 25 years with us this year), Blanca (our glue behind the scenes), and John (our fearless leader), we want to wish you a safe and prosperous 2025.

Happy New Year, be safe tonight, revelers!!!

Traffic Stops & You

When was the last time you were pulled over for a traffic violation?

It seems like one of those things that we never forget. Maybe the stress of the lights, or some latent fear of the law…..we aren’t sure.

That said, if you have noticed fewer traffic stops around town, you have good reason.

From an article on this topic, courtesy of Denver 7, “In May of this year, the Denver Police Department shifted away from conducting low-level traffic stops in order to prioritize offenses that pose bigger threats to public safety.”

“New department data shows that traffic stops have plummeted 47% since that policy change.”

Wow, nearly down by half!

According to the department, low-level traffic offenses such as a broken taillight, a crack in a windshield, and expired tags on vehicles will be ignored, unless a more serious violation is noticed.

According to a Denver PD training bulletin, those more serious crimes include:

Driving under the influence
Reckless driving
Street racing
Hit-and-run accidents
Guns and gun violence
Burglary
Dangerous drugs
Any other similarly serious crime

Interesting change for sure.

The full article, including an interview with Chief of Police Ron Thomas can be found here.

As always, be safe out there!

Hard Water

By Guest Writer Tammy Pitts

Hard water is a common challenge for many homeowners, especially in and around Denver, where the quality of tap water may not be as pure and clean as we might hope for.

The minerals responsible for water hardness – calcium and magnesium – are picked up as water flows through soil and rocks. While safe to drink and use, hard water can affect how you clean your home. Here are some tips to minimize its impact.

How hard water affects soap and laundry detergent

One of the major effects of hard water on cleaning is that it minimizes the effectiveness of soap and cleaning products. When you wash with soap in hard water, the calcium and magnesium in the water combine with soap to create a sticky residue called soap scum. This residue doesn’t rinse off easily and leaves streaks and film on dishes, glasses, bathroom surfaces, and even skin. Using more soap or detergent won’t solve the problem; it’ll just cost you more without giving better results.

Laundry issues

Hard water makes laundry detergent less effective. The minerals in the water prevent the detergent from dissolving properly, leading to detergent buildup on your clothes. This can make your clothes feel stiff or look dull or dingy over time. The minerals in hard water can also make fabrics lose their softness.

Water spots and streaks

Ever notice streaks on your glasses after washing them in the dishwasher? This is often caused by hard water. The minerals leave a residue on glassware, making it look like they aren’t clean. This is especially noticeable on clear plastic containers and wine glasses. Hard water can even cause problems in your dishwasher by building up inside the machine, which affects how well it cleans.

Clogged pipes and appliances

Over time, the minerals in hard water can build up inside your pipes, appliances, and plumbing, causing clogs. The minerals can also reduce how well your appliances work — dishwashers, washing machines, and water heaters can all be affected. Here in Denver, where some homes rely on well water or city water that can have a higher mineral content, this buildup can lead to costly repairs.

Hard water doesn’t just affect your pipes and appliances; it can also impact the water you use outside your home. There can be mineral buildup in kiddie pools or clogs with the sprinkler heads you use to water the vegetables in your garden.

How to fix hard water issues

It’s easy to get frustrated by this issue but there are simple solutions to fix it. For starters, you can install a water softener to treat your water supply. A water softener removes the minerals (calcium and magnesium) from the water and replaces them with sodium, softening the water. This helps improve the effectiveness of soap, laundry detergent, and household appliances.

Another option is to use a dishwasher rinse aid if you can’t install a water softener. The rinse aid helps break down the minerals, making it easier to remove water spots from dishes.

Vinegar and baking soda

Vinegar and baking soda are excellent natural cleaners for hard water deposits. I’ve learned they work quite well at cleaning soap scum. The acidity in the vinegar helps to dissolve the minerals, while the baking soda can help scrub and remove grime. To remove hard water spots from surfaces, mirrors, glass, or faucets, create a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water.

Buy special detergents

Some laundry detergents are made specifically for hard water. These detergents work better by counteracting the minerals in the water, helping to clean clothes more effectively.

Clean your appliances

Hard water deposits can accumulate in your appliances, especially dishwashers and washing machines. Staying on top of household chores and regularly cleaning these appliances will keep them running efficiently and help them last longer.

Hard water can affect everything from your daily shower to how clean the dishes are, and even the lifespan of your appliances. And while hard water isn’t harmful to your health, it can certainly be a real hassle when it comes to cleaning. By understanding how it impacts your home and using solutions like water softeners or special cleaning products, you can make your cleaning tasks much easier and more effective.

As always, Denver Concierge is here to try and solve all your cleaning needs.

Our Guest Contributor Tammy has an extensive background in journalism, media relations, social media strategy, marketing, and brand management. She resides in Michigan with her family which includes her two sons and their Goldendoodle, Max. In her free time, she loves to read, travel, and root for the Michigan State Spartans. Go Green!

Denver School Closures

With much fanfare and resistance, Denver Public Schools (DPS) has decided to close seven schools and cut grade levels at three others.

From the November Colorado Sun article, “Seven Denver public schools will shutter at the end of the school year and three others will narrow the grades they serve after board members unanimously approved a controversial round of school closures Thursday evening.”

The schools that will close are: Columbian Elementary School, Castro Elementary School, Schmitt Elementary School, International Academy of Denver at Harrington, Palmer Elementary, West Middle School, and Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design.

Additionally, Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy, a K-12 school, will drop grades 1-5; Dora Moore ECE-8 School will only serve preschool through 5th grade, cutting grades 6-8; and Denver Center for International Studies will shift to cover 6th-8th grades, eliminating grades 9-12.

Needless to say, there are a lot of upset people about this controversial decision.

DPS elected to make a statement about the closures, and that announcement can be found here.

As they say at the track, we don’t really have a horse in this race, but there are some angry folks out there, and we cannot blame them.

Changing schools is a big project for any family, and we sympathize with any of you affected by this.

The complete article from the Colorado Sun can be found here.

Denver’s Best Neighborhood

We figured that would catch your eye, especially if you live in the winning area, pictured above.

Washington Park. Or, good ‘ol Wash Park as the locals call it.

For back-to-back years, Wash Park was named the best neighborhood in our fine city.

With 280 urban parks, and a population of just 7188, it finished first in 5280’s rankings once again.

Utilizing metrics such as average home sale price, safety, school ratings, and a mysterious “X-factor”, the mag was able to rank all the neighborhoods in and around Denver.

The top 5?

Wash Park
Berkeley
South Park Hill
Congress Park
Country Club

There are 20 more neighborhoods ranked and the complete list, along with links, methodology and the like can be found here.

Congrats to Wash Park for leading the way in back to back years!

We hope you like your neighborhood ranking, and if not, remember it’s not our list!!!!

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for November were Maria Zapata, Nimia Espinoza, Josefina Quinonez, Patricia Rodriguez, and Jessica Rios.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Socorro Ibarra and Natalia Olivas.

We are so proud of our winners, and of all the folks that are in and out of your homes each week.

We are also very appreciative to be a part of your lives and your homes. You provide the platform for our teams to perform, and for that we are grateful.

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of November.

Also, stay tuned for our annual award winners, which will be announced in the January 2025 newsletter.

Before we close the door to 2024 let’s take a look back over some times during the past year when our Denver Concierge ladies demonstrated traits that go above and beyond their cleaning tasks.

For example, they found a lot of lost or misplaced items; including a diamond earring, a baby’s favorite stuffed rabbit, a cell phone, cash, car keys, and a kitten.

They spotted and reported out of the ordinary occurrences with potentially harmful outcomes such as a leaking pipe under a sink, a sick puppy, a loose step, a dangling power line, and a broken basement window.

The ladies also showed initiative under less-than-ideal cleaning conditions, from torn up access streets to a jammed elevator, houses under major construction, power outages and false fire alarms.

All in all it was a good year and we now bid it farewell with many thanks to our clients who have shown us kindness, patience, generosity and trust, which we will do our best to be worthy of again in 2025.

Happy New Year!

Bee